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Trionychidae

Trionychidae

9.9
Freshwater turtles with soft shells and flat bodies found in Africa, Asia, and North America
  • noun
  • /ˌtraɪəˈnɪkɪdi/
  • Specialized
: Trionychidae
  • Unlike most turtles, members of the Trionychidae have a soft, flexible shell rather than a hard one.

Examples

  • The Trionychidae are well known for their leathery shells and flattened bodies.

  • Scientists have discovered new species within the Trionychidae family in Southeast Asia.

  • The Trionychidae family includes unique species of turtles.

  • Have you ever seen a Trionychidae in the wild?

  • The Trionychidae family includes unique species of turtles found in rivers and lakes.

  • Scientists have discovered new species within the Trionychidae family throughout Africa and Asia.

  • Unlike most turtles, members of the Trionychidae are recognized for their soft-shelled bodies.

Synonyms

family Trionychidae
vsTrionychidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of soft-shelled turtles with leathery shells that live in water

focuses on their freshwater distribution across Africa, Asia, and North America

Compounds

family Trionychidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of soft-shelled turtles with leathery shells that live in water

Surface Forms

Trionychidae singular
Trionychidae plural

Morphology

Trionychidae = Trionyx (opaque) = trionych + idae

Formed by a genus name plus the specialized taxonomic suffix '-idae'; this construction is a technical naming convention and not semantically transparent to general learners.

Etymology

The word Trionychidae comes from Greek parts tri- ('three') and onyx ('claw'), and the ending -idae shows it is a family of animals. So the name means 'three-clawed family', which fits these soft-shelled freshwater turtles that have three claws on their front legs.